East Coast Road stretch to get more CCTVs

ones. The move is for crime prevention and detection and the plan is to instal CCTVs in all entry points to beaches, say the police. Police sources said cameras have already been procured to be installed at junctions in few of the entry points (Tiruvanmiyur, Palavakkam, Neelankarai, Sai Baba temple, Prarthana drive-in theatre).

Some of the criminals might stay put in the beach and escape during the day, police say. According to a senior police officer, “The 13.3 km stretch of ECR under city police limits is a huge jurisdiction and though there are regular vehicle checks and active beat patrol in the area, CCTVs will help the cops.” If the CCTV cameras are in place, the criminals will also avoid venturing into an area under surveillance and if they do, their bikes or faces will get recorded, the officer added.

In this regard, seven cameras were recently installed near the canal bridges connecting ECR to Rajiv Gandhi Salai. “These are the exit points from ECR and can act as escape routes for criminals,” a police officer reasoned out.Further, eight cameras already exist along the ECR stretch, at places such as Kottivakkam traffic signal, Periyar Nagar, Akkarai. The police have sourced the cameras with the help of local councillors and service organisations along the stretch. “Most of the residents in the stretch have fitted CCTVs. But, we want to concentrate on non-residential areas too.